The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-14
WOMEN AND THE TRICYCLE..
A Type of Thousands in the Old Bay
State.


on tricycle. is much more common in Mas
sachusetts than in New York. This may DO
due to the better average of road-maling
among the descendants of the Pufitans.
Certain it is that solitary riders or groups
of twos and threes trundle along the coun-
try lanes frequently enough, and women's
tricycle. clubs are springmg mp III some OF
the towns 1t is part of Massachusetts,
girls conservatism and enrolled in her set
of conventions to be so sure of the Brightness
and desirability of anything she does that
she can afford to do it with all the demure-
ness of a Priscilla before it has occurred to
the chic New Y Yorker or the audacious West
erner to delight her set by a fresh departure
from its canons
The Massachusetts tricycle. rider dresses
much as they do in the park with one eXcep-
ton. Her skirt of some soft, wool goods
she runs to fine dark blue serge this sum
mer-draping in long close.anti-breeze folds.
Above this she dous blouse which, if she
can afford it, and it is here the novelty comes
in, she makes of a pretty wash silk IN some
tint that suits her complexion. 1t is char
acteristic of a Massachusetts, girls direct
ness, which is always honest if sometimes
inartistic, that she is falling into way OF
indicating her proclivities in out of door
sports by the insignia on her garments. thus
embroidered on that silk OF flannel blouse,
while the enthusiasts in revived croquet
adopt the same garment adorned with NAL
lets and balls, the tennis player sports
racquets and the nautical girl is covered
with miniature sloops and true lovers
knots. All this is well enough in its way,
though in anybody buta New Highlander it
would smack of the feminine dude, but an
chors on the parasol go little too far in the
of CO. L. ,..ag.t rla nr
anchor is not up aloft, and good representa-
tons of them on the shoes would be rather
more in keeping
Massachusetts, tricyclists, however, as |
started to say, are making good records, and
as the machine in the process of its evolu-
ton becomes less clumsy and more tit for
women to use, the proportion of women who
ride one of their own as compared with those
who mount tandems with their husbands
seems to be increasing. The run from old
Salem through Essex county is fayorite
one, and spin of several miles is taken by
a good many enterprising danes as an ap-
petizer before late dog-day breakfast
THE INDEPENDENCE OF MASSACHUSETTS
WOMEN.
The practical independence of the Massa-
chusetts woman shows itself in monetary
self-reliance that has pleasant and unpleas-
ant aspects. | have in mind couple, type
of some thousands of others, who have been
married six or eight years perhaps. Before
marriage he was foreman of the lasters in
the inevitable shoe mandatory. She was
boss of the stitching room. He earned per
hapS SlS week She earned about SIP to
S14 After marriage both retained their
positions. It is part of the creed of shoe
towns that the shoemakers wife works in
the shop. Usually his wages compel her to.
When that is not the case habit which has
bred in the shoemaker a way of giving his
wife no money compels her to all the same.
This couple keep house. They have no
children. The wife is proud of her neat
home and rises early and goes to bed late to
keep it in order out of working hours, She
washes summer and winter before the sun
is up She irons and cooks and sews by
lamplight. She does adj her household du+
ties well, for she is genuine old-time New
England housewife. As an equivalent for
this home labor on his wifes part the hus-
band pays the rent and settles the provision
bills All other money that he earns is his
and it would give him shock of surprise
to be called upon for penny byohis wife.
If she wants furniture she buySit, and has
invested good deal first and last in uphol-
stery and dainty hangings that women love.
She buys her clothing and puts what she
savesinto the savings bank in her own name,
The financial relations of the two are as well
defined and as distinct from their conjugal
relations as if they WE'RE business partners
Even in the matter of benefit associations
they stand on an exact equality. He insures
for her with the Red Men, she insures for
him and for the same sum in the Daughters
of Pocahontas whose lodges are differed
and affairs conducted by women. He pays
his assessments, she pays hers q
| have seen this instance repeat itself lnl
Vulnerable times When husband and wife
are of the right sort the arrangement does
not work badly The money-making power
of the wife in such practical community
insures her respect and improves her posi-
ton. Both bank accounts prosper if the
pair are prudent, and the time comes when
they buy homestead together on very even
terms. When there are children or the
characters are Unbalanced it does not go as
well. There are women in plenty who are
dying by inches because their husbands
know that they can support themselves and
by withholding supplies compel them to do
so in spite of a growing family and work
enough at home for any woman's strength
1t is not so many women who are physically
able to do two days work in one, nor so
many men who can be trusted with the
knowledge that they can get so much from
their wives if they try.
THE NEW ENGLAND GIRL.
"a SltdO DcpplO nave ohc
New England girl, but her exact character
istics are hard to hit. 1t is the absence of
certain characteristics, not the presence of
any, that strikes stranger first. She has
not the spice of the New Yorker, the luxu-
rance of the Southerner, the dash of the
Westerner You miss something about her.
She is quiet and reserved in her dress, but
not severe enough for that TO strike you as
a distinguishing mark You meet her a
second time and a third before you can apply
to her any especial attributes whatever.
Then at last you perceive that she is far
enough from being neutral. 1t is only that
after roses an interval is necessary before
one can appreciate yiolets. Your true New
Highlander is seen i'll her perfection in Bos-
ton, and, Howells and the whole crop Of
Boston girl newspaper jokes to the contrary
notwithstanding, she is far enough from
being aggressive. Neither on tue other
hand is she icy. She is simply self-con-
tanned, with interest enough in life not to
rush in utter boredom with open arms AZ
any new sensation, living in world Of her
own but ready after a minute ofsconsidera-
ton to meet you from third to half way
She looks at you with very straightforward
eyes, and. if she likes you, she Will let you
see that she has some serious notions in life
and holds herself 20 rather strict account
for her disposition of her time. If she likes
you very much she will show you further
that she has plenty of fun in her and that
when she enjoys anything she enjoys il all
the more heartily because she doesn't spend
her whole life trying 20 enjoy things every
L., Co.,. ,.oo,,Ia (pI "a e., fJ.1,t., H.,